Digital microscope and method for capturing and displaying microscopic images

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for capturing and displaying microscopic images of a sample to be microscopically examined using a digital microscope. In a step, a sequence of microscopic images with enhanced visual information in a third geometric dimension is captured. The sequence of the microscopic images is displayed while it is captured. A visual representation of a capturing range in the third geometric dimension is displayed at a graphical user interface. A user input that defines at least one adjustment of the capturing range is received resulting in an adjusted capturing range. At least one parameter of detecting visual information in the third geometric dimension is adjusted according to the adjusted capturing range. It is continued to capture the sequence of the microscopic images with the enhanced visual information in the third geometric dimension applying the at least one adjusted parameter. Furthermore, the invention concerns a digital microscope.

1 . A method for capturing and displaying microscopic images ( 01 ) of a sample to be microscopically examined using a digital microscope; wherein the method comprises the following steps:
 capturing a sequence of microscopic images with enhanced visual information in a third geometric dimension;   displaying the sequence of the microscopic images while it is captured;   determining a capturing range in the third geometric dimension depending on an extent of an area of interest of the sample,   displaying a visual representation of the capturing range in the third geometric dimension, wherein that visual representation is displayed at a graphical user interface, and wherein at least a lower limit and an upper limit of the capturing range are adjustable at the graphical user interface;   receiving a user input that defines at least one adjustment of the capturing range in the third geometric dimension resulting in an adjusted capturing range in the third geometric dimension;   adjusting at least one parameter of detecting visual information in the third geometric dimension according to the adjusted capturing range in the third geometric dimension; and   continuing to capture the sequence of the microscopic images with the enhanced visual information in the third geometric dimension applying the at least one adjusted parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the images with the enhanced visual information in the third geometric dimension are images with an extended depth of field or three-dimensional images. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the least one parameter of detecting visual information in the third geometric dimension comprises:
 a selection of an objective of a set of exchangeable objectives,   an optical magnification of an objective,   a step size in the third geometric dimension,   a number of steps in the third geometric dimension,   a field of view,   an illumination setting,   an illumination condition,   an option for an automatic correction of reflexes,   an option for an automatic telecentric correction,   a rate of images per second,   a rate of volumes per second,   a depth quality threshold,   a smoothing index,   an index of a pixelwise iteration,   a depthwise kernel size,   a value of a bilateral sigma colour,   a value of a bilateral sigma space;   a resize ratio,   a number of threads,   a spectral range of an illumination,   a frequency of a stroboscopic illumination,   an acquisition time,   a selection of rings of illumination,   a selection of a coaxial illumination,   an exposure time,   a mode of white balance, and/or   a camera gain.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that an available range in the third geometric dimension is determined based on properties of the used digital microscope. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the visual representation of the capturing range in the third geometric dimension is an inner bar in an outer bar, wherein the outer bar visually represents the available range in the third geometric dimension. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a step, in which parameters of capturing and/or displaying the microscopic images with the enhanced visual information in the third geometric dimension are automatically determined before the sample is microscopically examined. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the parameters to be automatically determined before the sample is microscopically examined comprise:
 a selection of an objective of a set of exchangeable objectives,   an optical magnification of an objective,   an illumination,   a spectral range of an illumination,   a frequency of a stroboscopic illumination,   an acquisition time, and/or   a camera gain.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises
 the following steps:
 displaying a visual representation of an available exposing range that ranges from a minimally available exposure to a maximally available exposure of the sample, wherein that visual representation of the exposing range is displayed at the graphical user interface, 
 receiving a further user input that defines a selected exposing range that ranges from a minimally applicable exposure to a maximally applicable exposure of the sample. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the selected exposing range is visually represented at the graphical user interface as an inner bar in an outer bar that visually represents the available exposing range. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises the following steps:
 displaying a first menu at the graphical user interface, wherein the first menu comprises at least two menu items, wherein each of the menu items stands for a mode of capturing microscopic images, wherein at least one of the modes describes capturing of microscopic images with enhanced visual information in the third geometric dimension; and   receiving a user input of selecting one of the first menu items of the first menu.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises the following steps:
 displaying a second menu at the graphical user interface, wherein the second menu ( 14 ) comprises at least two menu items, wherein at least one of the menu items stands for a mode of displaying the microscopic images with enhanced visual information in the third geometric dimension; and   receiving a user input of selecting one of the menu items of the second menu.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a mode of displaying the microscopic images with enhanced visual information in the third geometric dimension as images with an extended depth of field is selected automatically if the user uses a two dimensional display for watching the microscopic images, wherein a mode of displaying the microscopic images with enhanced visual information in the third geometric dimension as 2.5-dimensional images or as three dimensional images is selected automatically if the user uses a 2.5-dimensional display or a three-dimensional display for watching the microscopic images. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that an option is displayed at the graphical user interface, wherein this option stands for a mode of displaying the microscopic images with enhanced visual information in the third geometric dimension as microscopic images showing an extended depth of field and/or showing a focused area, wherein the extended depth of field or the focused area is at least present in at least one region of interest. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a tool for measuring is presented at the graphical user interface, wherein a user input on that tool is received, wherein geometric data are determined by image data processing of the captured sequence of the microscopic images with enhanced visual information in the third geometric dimension, and wherein the user input is applied to the geometric data in order to calculate a measure that is output at the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         15 . A digital microscope for capturing microscopic images of a sample to be microscopically examined; comprising:
 an objective for gathering light from the sample to be microscopically examined, wherein the objective comprises at least one lens;   an image sensor for converting an image transferred from the objective to the image sensor into an electrical signal;   an illumination unit for illuminating the sample;   an apparatus for capturing enhanced visual information in the third geometric dimension;   a graphical user interface; and   a control circuitry that is configured for executing a method according to  claim 1 .